By Mohamed Vandi
The Police Local Unit Commander, Kenema Division, Chief Superintendent David Sahid Koroma has told Politico that seven people arrested during the weekend melee in the eastern city will appear in court today. He said the seven were all supporters of the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party and would be charged with unlawful assembly, riotous conduct and disorderly behaviour following disturbances on Sunday between supporters of the party and their All People's Congress rivals.
He said they were arrested on Sunday evening around the SLPP office following some post-election disagreement that led to a brawl.
LUC Koroma said the suspects were converging at specific locations in Kenema including at the SLPP office, allegedly chanting “No Bio, No Government” something he said could have degenerated into an orgy of violence. He described those arrested as the ringleaders.
“We identified all the convergent points and sent our joint forces there to perform professional and acceptable duty” he said, adding that they were able to disperse them. That was followed by a night-time curfew in the town which Koroma said was a temporary measure that would only continue if they were not satisfied with the security situation.
The SLPP public relations officer in the district, Yankuba Nyallay confirmed that four of their members and supporters had been arrested by the police, including their district secretary, Maada Puawui Sellu. He described the arrest as “unlawful”, saying that their supporters were at the party office and did not go out to offend anyone.
The others are Samuel Michael Sannoh, Mohamed Obomo Turay, Mohamed Conteh and Yusufu Kamara, Isha Kamara and Ibrahim Sannoh.
He said the party was closely monitoring the situation.
© Politico 27/11/2012
